@article{HaringPettingerBeaetal.2013, author = {Haring, Bernhard and Pettinger, Mary and Bea, Jennifer W. and Wactawski-Wende, Jean and Carnahan, Ryan M. and Ockene, Judith K. and Wyler von Ballmoos, Moritz and Wallace, Robert B. and Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia}, title = {Laxative use and incident falls, fractures and change in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative}, series = {BMC Geriatrics}, journal = {BMC Geriatrics}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2318-13-38}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-95960}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Laxatives are among the most widely used over-the-counter medications in the United States but studies examining their potential hazardous side effects are sparse. Associations between laxative use and risk for fractures and change in bone mineral density [BMD] have not previously been investigated. Methods This prospective analysis included 161,808 postmenopausal women (8907 users and 151,497 nonusers of laxatives) enrolled in the WHI Observational Study and Clinical Trials. Women were recruited from October 1, 1993, to December 31, 1998, at 40 clinical centers in the United States and were eligible if they were 50 to 79 years old and were postmenopausal at the time of enrollment. Medication inventories were obtained during in-person interviews at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up visit on everyone. Data on self-reported falls (≥2), fractures (hip and total fractures) were used. BMD was determined at baseline and year 3 at 3 of the 40 clinical centers of the WHI. Results Age-adjusted rates of hip fractures and total fractures, but not for falls were similar between laxative users and non-users regardless of duration of laxative use. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for any laxative use were 1.06 (95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.10) for falls, 1.02 (95\% CI, 0.85-1.22) for hip fractures and 1.01 (95\% CI, 0.96-1.07) for total fractures. The BMD levels did not statistically differ between laxative users and nonusers at any skeletal site after 3-years intake. Conclusion These findings support a modest association between laxative use and increase in the risk of falls but not for fractures. Its use did not decrease bone mineral density levels in postmenopausal women. Maintaining physical functioning, and providing adequate treatment of comorbidities that predispose individuals for falls should be considered as first measures to avoid potential negative consequences associated with laxative use.}, language = {en} } @article{WeidemannNiemannStorketal.2013, author = {Weidemann, F. and Niemann, M. and Stork, S. and Breunig, F. and Beer, M. and Sommer, C. and Herrmann, S. and Ertl, G. and Wanner, C.}, title = {Long-term outcome of enzyme-replacement therapy in advanced Fabry disease: evidence for disease progression towards serious complications}, series = {Journal of Internal Medicine}, volume = {247}, journal = {Journal of Internal Medicine}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1111/joim.12077}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-132075}, pages = {331-4}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The long-term effects of enzyme-replacement therapy (ERT) in Fabry disease are unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether ERT in patients with advanced Fabry disease affects progression towards 'hard' clinical end-points in comparison with the natural course of the disease. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with genetically proven Fabry disease (mean age 40 ± 9 years; n = 9 women) were treated prospectively with ERT for 6 years. In addition, 40 subjects from the Fabry Registry, matched for age, sex, chronic kidney disease stage and previous transient ischaemic attack (TIA), served as a comparison group. The main outcome was a composite of stroke, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Secondary outcomes included changes in myocardial left ventricular (LV) wall thickness and replacement fibrosis, change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), new TIA and change in neuropathic pain. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 6.0 years (bottom and top quartiles: 5.1, 7.2), 15 events occurred in 13 patients (n = 7 deaths, n = 4 cases of ESRD and n = 4 strokes). Sudden death occurred (n = 6) only in patients with documented ventricular tachycardia and myocardial replacement fibrosis. The annual progression of myocardial LV fibrosis in the entire cohort was 0.6 ± 0.7\%. As a result, posterior end-diastolic wall thinning was observed (baseline, 13.2 ± 2.0 mm; follow-up, 11.4 ± 2.1 mm; P < 0.01). GFR decreased by 2.3 ± 4.6 mL min(-1) per year. Three patients experienced a TIA. The major clinical symptom was neuropathic pain (n = 37), and this symptom improved in 25 patients. The event rate was not different between the ERT group and the untreated (natural history) group of the Fabry Registry. CONCLUSION: Despite ERT, clinically meaningful events including sudden cardiac death continue to develop in patients with advanced Fabry disease.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Michalska2013, author = {Michalska, Marta}, title = {Molecular Imaging of atherosclerosis}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-73243}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Atherosklerose ist eine aktive und progressive Erkrankung, bei der vaskul{\"a}re Adh{\"a}sionsmolek{\"u}le wie VCAM-1 eine entscheidende Rolle durch Steuerung der Rekrutierung von Immunzellen in den fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen Plaques spielen. Ein zielgerichteter Einsatz von VCAM-1-Molek{\"u}len mit spezifischen Kontrastmitteln ist daher eine M{\"o}glichkeit, die VCAM-1-Expression zu kontrollieren, Plaquewachstum ab einem fr{\"u}hen Zeitpunkt zu visualisieren und eine fr{\"u}he Pr{\"a}vention von Atherosklerose vor Beginn der Thrombusbildung zu etablieren. Des Weiteren bietet die nichtinvasive Magnetresonanz (MR)-Bildgebung den Vorteil der Kombination molekularer und morphologischer Daten. Sie erm{\"o}glicht, mithilfe von entwickelten VCAM-1-markierten Eisenoxidpartikeln, den spezifischen Nachweis entz{\"u}ndlicher Prozesse w{\"a}hrend der Atherosklerose. Diese Arbeit belegt, dass mit dem VCAM-1-Konzept eine vielversprechende Herangehensweise gefunden wurde und dass das, mit spezifischen superparamagnetischen Eisenoxid (USPIO) konjugierte VCAM-1-Peptid, gegen{\"u}ber unspezifischer USPIOs ein erh{\"o}htes Potenzial bei der Untersuchung der Atherosklerose in sich tr{\"a}gt. Im ersten Teil der Arbeit konnte im Mausmodell gezeigt werden, dass gerade das VCAM-1-Molek{\"u}l ein sinnvoller Ansatzpunkt zur Darstellung und Bildgebung von Atherosklerose ist, da in der fr{\"u}hen Phase der Entz{\"u}ndung die vaskul{\"a}ren Zelladh{\"a}sionsmolek{\"u}le {\"u}berexprimiert und auch kontinuierlich, w{\"a}hrend der fortschreitenden Plaquebildung, hochreguliert werden. Weiterhin beschreibt diese Arbeit die Funktionst{\"u}chtigkeit und das Verm{\"o}gen des neu gestalteten USPIO Kontrastmittels mit dem zyklischen Peptid, in seiner Spezialisierung auf die VCAM-1 Erkennung. Experimentelle Studien mit ultra-Hochfeld-MRT erm{\"o}glichten weitere ex vivo und in vivo Nachweise der eingesetzten USPIO-VCAM-1-Partikel innerhalb der Region um die Aortenwurzel in fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen atherosklerotischen Plaques von 12 und 30 Wochen alten Apolipoprotein E-defizienten (ApoE-/-) M{\"a}usen. Mit ihrer Kombination aus Histologie und Elektronenmikroskopie zeigt diese Studie zum ersten Mal die Verteilung von VCAM-1-markierten USPIO Partikeln nicht nur in luminalem Bereich der Plaques, sondern auch in tieferen Bereichen der medialen Muskelzellen. Dieser spezifische und sensitive Nachweis der fr{\"u}hen und fortgeschrittenen Stadien der Plaquebildung bringt auf molekularer Ebene neue M{\"o}glichkeiten zur Fr{\"u}herkennung von atherosklerotischen Plaques vor dem Entstehen von 8 Rupturen. Im Gegensatz zum USPIO-VCAM-1-Kontrastmittel scheiterten unspezifische USPIO Partikel an der Identifikation fr{\"u}her Plaqueformen und begrenzten die Visualisierung von Atherosklerose auf fortgeschrittene Stadien in ApoE-/- M{\"a}usen.}, subject = {VCAM}, language = {en} } @article{PalkovitsŠebekovaKlenovicsetal.2013, author = {Palkovits, Mikl{\´o}s and Šebekov{\´a}, Katar{\´i}na and Klenovics, Kristina Simon and Kebis, Anton and Fazeli, Gholamreza and Bahner, Udo and Heidland, August}, title = {Neuronal Activation in the Central Nervous System of Rats in the Initial Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease-Modulatory Effects of Losartan and Moxonidine}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {8}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0066543}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-130108}, pages = {e66543}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The effect of mild chronic renal failure (CRF) induced by 4/6-nephrectomy (4/6NX) on central neuronal activations was investigated by c-Fos immunohistochemistry staining and compared to sham-operated rats. In the 4/6 NX rats also the effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker, losartan, and the central sympatholyticum moxonidine was studied for two months. In serial brain sections Fos-immunoreactive neurons were localized and classified semiquantitatively. In 37 brain areas/nuclei several neurons with different functional properties were strongly affected in 4/6NX. It elicited a moderate to high Fos-activity in areas responsible for the monoaminergic innervation of the cerebral cortex, the limbic system, the thalamus and hypothalamus (e.g. noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus, serotonergic neurons in dorsal raphe, histaminergic neurons in the tuberomamillary nucleus). Other monoaminergic cell groups (A5 noradrenaline, C1 adrenaline, medullary raphe serotonin neurons) and neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (innervating the sympathetic preganglionic neurons and affecting the peripheral sympathetic outflow) did not show Fos-activity. Stress- and pain-sensitive cortical/subcortical areas, neurons in the limbic system, the hypothalamus and the circumventricular organs were also affected by 4/6NX. Administration of losartan and more strongly moxonidine modulated most effects and particularly inhibited Fos-activity in locus coeruleus neurons. In conclusion, 4/6NX elicits high activity in central sympathetic, stress- and pain-related brain areas as well as in the limbic system, which can be ameliorated by losartan and particularly by moxonidine. These changes indicate a high sensitivity of CNS in initial stages of CKD which could be causative in clinical disturbances.}, language = {en} } @article{DrechslerSchmiedekeNiemannetal.2013, author = {Drechsler, Christiane and Schmiedeke, Benjamin and Niemann, Markus and Schmiedeke, Daniel and Kr{\"a}mer, Johannes and Turkin, Irina and Blouin, Katja and Emmert, Andrea and Pilz, Stefan and Obermayer-Pietsch, Barbara and Wiedemann, Frank and Breunig, Frank and Wanner, Christoph}, title = {Potential role of vitamin D deficiency on Fabry cardiomyopathy}, series = {Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease}, volume = {37}, journal = {Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1007/s10545-013-9653-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-132102}, pages = {289-295}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Patients with Fabry disease frequently develop left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and renal fibrosis. Due to heat intolerance and an inability to sweat, patients tend to avoid exposure to sunlight. We hypothesized that subsequent vitamin D deficiency may contribute to Fabry cardiomyopathy. This study investigated the vitamin D status and its association with LV mass and adverse clinical symptoms in patients with Fabry disease. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) was measured in 111 patients who were genetically proven to have Fabry disease. LV mass and cardiomyopathy were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. In cross-sectional analyses, associations with adverse clinical outcomes were determined by linear and binary logistic regression analyses, respectively, and were adjusted for age, sex, BMI and season. Patients had a mean age of 40 ± 13 years (42 \% males), and a mean 25(OH)D of 23.5 ± 11.4 ng/ml. Those with overt vitamin D deficiency (25[OH]D ≤ 15 ng/ml) had an adjusted six fold higher risk of cardiomyopathy, compared to those with sufficient 25(OH)D levels >30 ng/ml (p = 0.04). The mean LV mass was distinctively different with 170 ± 75 g in deficient, 154 ± 60 g in moderately deficient and 128 ± 58 g in vitamin D sufficient patients (p = 0.01). With increasing severity of vitamin D deficiency, the median levels of proteinuria increased, as well as the prevalences of depression, edema, cornea verticillata and the need for medical pain therapy. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was strongly associated with cardiomyopathy and adverse clinical symptoms in patients with Fabry disease. Whether vitamin D supplementation improves complications of Fabry disease, requires a randomized controlled trial.}, language = {en} } @article{SchneiderSchneiderScharnagletal.2013, author = {Schneider, Andreas and Schneider, Markus P. and Scharnagl, Hubert and Jardine, Alan G. and Wanner, Christoph and Drechsler, Christiane}, title = {Predicting erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes}, series = {BMC Nephrology}, volume = {14}, journal = {BMC Nephrology}, number = {67}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2369-14-67}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-128695}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Resistance to ESAs (erythropoietin stimulating agents) is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients with diabetes and associated with an increased mortality. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for ESA resistance and to develop a prediction model for the risk stratification in these patients. Methods: A post-hoc analysis was conducted of the 4D study, including 1015 patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing hemodialysis. Determinants of ESA resistance were identified by univariate logistic regression analyses. Subsequently, multivariate models were performed with stepwise inclusion of significant predictors from clinical parameters, routine laboratory and specific biomarkers. Results: In the model restricted to clinical parameters, male sex, shorter dialysis vintage, lower BMI, history of CHF, use of ACE-inhibitors and a higher heart rate were identified as independent predictors of ESA resistance. In regard to routine laboratory markers, lower albumin, lower iron saturation, higher creatinine and higher potassium levels were independently associated with ESA resistance. With respect to specific biomarkers, higher ADMA and CRP levels as well as lower Osteocalcin levels were predictors of ESA resistance. Conclusions: Easily obtainable clinical parameters and routine laboratory parameters can predict ESA resistance in diabetic hemodialysis patients with good discrimination. Specific biomarkers did not meaningfully further improve the risk prediction of ESA resistance. Routinely assessed data can be used in clinical practice to stratify patients according to the risk of ESA resistance, which may help to assign appropriate treatment strategies.}, language = {en} } @article{EliasHeuschmannSchmittetal.2013, author = {Elias, Johannes and Heuschmann, Peter U. and Schmitt, Corinna and Eckhardt, Frithjof and Boehm, Hartmut and Maier, Sebastian and Kolb-M{\"a}urer, Annette and Riedmiller, Hubertus and M{\"u}llges, Wolfgang and Weisser, Christoph and Wunder, Christian and Frosch, Matthias and Vogel, Ulrich}, title = {Prevalence dependent calibration of a predictive model for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus}, series = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2334-13-111}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96091}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Published models predicting nasal colonization with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among hospital admissions predominantly focus on separation of carriers from non-carriers and are frequently evaluated using measures of discrimination. In contrast, accurate estimation of carriage probability, which may inform decisions regarding treatment and infection control, is rarely assessed. Furthermore, no published models adjust for MRSA prevalence. Methods Using logistic regression, a scoring system (values from 0 to 200) predicting nasal carriage of MRSA was created using a derivation cohort of 3091 individuals admitted to a European tertiary referral center between July 2007 and March 2008. The expected positive predictive value of a rapid diagnostic test (GeneOhm, Becton \& Dickinson Co.) was modeled using non-linear regression according to score. Models were validated on a second cohort from the same hospital consisting of 2043 patients admitted between August 2008 and January 2012. Our suggested correction score for prevalence was proportional to the log-transformed odds ratio between cohorts. Calibration before and after correction, i.e. accurate classification into arbitrary strata, was assessed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow-Test. Results Treating culture as reference, the rapid diagnostic test had positive predictive values of 64.8\% and 54.0\% in derivation and internal validation corhorts with prevalences of 2.3\% and 1.7\%, respectively. In addition to low prevalence, low positive predictive values were due to high proportion (> 66\%) of mecA-negative Staphylococcus aureus among false positive results. Age, nursing home residence, admission through the medical emergency department, and ICD-10-GM admission diagnoses starting with "A" or "J" were associated with MRSA carriage and were thus included in the scoring system, which showed good calibration in predicting probability of carriage and the rapid diagnostic test's expected positive predictive value. Calibration for both probability of carriage and expected positive predictive value in the internal validation cohort was improved by applying the correction score. Conclusions Given a set of patient parameters, the presented models accurately predict a) probability of nasal carriage of MRSA and b) a rapid diagnostic test's expected positive predictive value. While the former can inform decisions regarding empiric antibiotic treatment and infection control, the latter can influence choice of screening method.}, language = {en} } @article{deZeeuwAkizawaAgarwaletal.2013, author = {de Zeeuw, Dick and Akizawa, Tadao and Agarwal, Rajiv and Audhya, Paul and Bakris, George L. and Chin, Melanie and Krauth, Melissa and Lambers Heerspink, Hiddo J. and Meyer, Colin J. and McMurray, John J. and Parving, Hans-Henrik and Pergola, Pablo E. and Remuzzi, Giuseppe and Toto, Robert D. and Vaziri, Nosratola D. and Wanner, Christoph and Warnock, David G. and Wittes, Janet and Chertow, Glenn M.}, title = {Rationale and Trial Design of Bardoxolone Methyl Evaluation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: The Occurrence of Renal Events (BEACON)}, series = {American Journal of Nephrology}, volume = {37}, journal = {American Journal of Nephrology}, number = {3}, issn = {0250-8095}, doi = {10.1159/000346948}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-196832}, pages = {212-222}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus constitutes a global epidemic complicated by considerable renal and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, despite the provision of inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Bardoxolone methyl, a synthetic triterpenoid that reduces oxidative stress and inflammation through Nrf2 activation and inhibition of NF-κB was previously shown to increase estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To date, no antioxidant or anti-inflammatory therapy has proved successful at slowing the progression of CKD. Methods: Herein, we describe the design of Bardoxolone Methyl Evaluation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: the Occurrence of Renal Events (BEACON) trial, a multinational, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial designed to determine whether long-term administration of bardoxolone methyl (on a background of standard therapy, including RAAS inhibitors) safely reduces renal and cardiac morbidity and mortality. Results: The primary composite endpoint is time-to-first occurrence of either end-stage renal disease or cardiovascular death. Secondary endpoints include the change in eGFR and time to occurrence of cardiovascular events. Conclusion: BEACON will be the first event-driven trial to evaluate the effect of an oral antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drug in advanced CKD.}, language = {en} } @article{EiseleBlozikStoerketal.2013, author = {Eisele, Marion and Blozik, Eva and St{\"o}rk, Stefan and Tr{\"a}der, Jens-Martin and Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph and Scherer, Martin}, title = {Recognition of depression and anxiety and their association with quality of life, hospitalization and mortality in primary care patients with heart failure - study protocol of a longitudinal observation study}, series = {BMC Family Practice}, volume = {14}, journal = {BMC Family Practice}, number = {180}, issn = {1471-2296}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2296-14-180}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121881}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: International disease management guidelines recommend the regular assessment of depression and anxiety in heart failure patients. Currently there is little data on the effect of screening for depression and anxiety on the quality of life and the prognosis of heart failure (HF). We will investigate the association between the recognition of current depression/anxiety by the general practitioner (GP) and the quality of life and the patients' prognosis. Methods/Design: In this multicenter, prospective, observational study 3,950 patients with HF are recruited by general practices in Germany. The patients fill out questionnaires at baseline and 12-month follow-up. At baseline the GPs are interviewed regarding the somatic and psychological comorbidities of their patients. During the follow-up assessment, data on hospitalization and mortality are provided by the general practice. Based on baseline data, the patients are allocated into three observation groups: HF patients with depression and/or anxiety recognized by their GP (P+/+), those with depression and/or anxiety not recognized (P+/-) and patients without depression and/or anxiety (P-/-). We will perform multivariate regression models to investigate the influence of the recognition of depression and/or anxiety on quality of life at 12 month follow-up, as well as its influences on the prognosis (hospital admission, mortality). Discussion: We will display the frequency of GP-acknowledged depression and anxiety and the frequency of installed therapeutic strategies. We will also describe the frequency of depression and anxiety missed by the GP and the resulting treatment gap. Effects of correctly acknowledged and missed depression/anxiety on outcome, also in comparison to the outcome of subjects without depression/anxiety will be addressed. In case results suggest a treatment gap of depression/anxiety in patients with HF, the results of this study will provide methodological advice for the efficient planning of further interventional research.}, language = {en} } @article{BrandenburgKramannKoosetal.2013, author = {Brandenburg, Vincent M. and Kramann, Rafael and Koos, Ralf and Krueger, Thilo and Schurgers, Leon and M{\"u}hlenbruch, Georg and H{\"u}bner, Sinah and Gladziwa, Ulrich and Drechler, Christiane and Ketteler, Markus}, title = {Relationship between sclerostin and cardiovascular calcification in hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study}, series = {BMC Nephrology}, volume = {14}, journal = {BMC Nephrology}, number = {219}, issn = {1471-2369}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2369-14-219}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-122070}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background: Sclerostin is a Wnt pathway antagonist regulating osteoblast activity and bone turnover. Here, we assessed the potential association of sclerostin with the development of coronary artery (CAC) and aortic valve calcifications (AVC) in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional multi-slice computed tomography (MS-CT) scanning study in 67 chronic HD patients (59.4 +/- 14.8 yrs) for measurement of CAC and AVC. We tested established biomarkers as well as serum sclerostin (ELISA) regarding their association to the presence of calcification. Fifty-four adults without relevant renal disease served as controls for serum sclerostin levels. Additionally, sclerostin expression in explanted aortic valves from 15 dialysis patients was analysed ex vivo by immunohistochemistry and mRNA quantification (Qt-RT-PCR). Results: CAC (Agatston score > 100) and any AVC were present in 65\% and in 40\% of the MS-CT patient group, respectively. Serum sclerostin levels (1.53 +/- 0.81 vs 0.76 +/- 0.31 ng/mL, p < 0.001) were significantly elevated in HD compared to controls and more so in HD patients with AVC versus those without AVC (1.78 +/- 0.84 vs 1.35 +/- 0.73 ng/mL, p = 0.02). Multivariable regression analysis for AVC revealed significant associations with higher serum sclerostin. Ex vivo analysis of uraemic calcified aortic valves (n = 10) revealed a strong sclerostin expression very close to calcified regions (no sclerostin staining in non-calcified valves). Correspondingly, we observed a highly significant upregulation of sclerostin mRNA in calcified valves compared to non-calcified control valves. Conclusion: We found a strong association of sclerostin with calcifying aortic heart valve disease in haemodialysis patients. Sclerostin is locally produced in aortic valve tissue adjacent to areas of calcification.}, language = {en} }